Monday, May 23, 2011

News from the midwestern front

I have never understood why this section of the country is called the midwest. It is not very far west at all, easily identifiable on a map as east of center, really. Noticeable proximity to the eastern seaboard, too. And Wisconsin is, for a stretch, part of the northern border of the United States. There's a link to the Midwest article on Wikipedia on Wisconsin's article, and I'm a bit tempted but since discovering that reading Wikipedia with extreme indignation does not itself shift the world to a more pleasant state of being, I am hesitant to raise my blood pressure with the whole affair.

Josh and I went for a nice walk after dinner. At the unsteering hands of our carless virtue, walking is done far more often up here than it was in Florida. What are these things at the ends of my legs?!

So. A walk down to the open air-style mall, where we found a bench in front of a fountain we'd never noticed, and we sat and Josh had a Coke and we just talked about our days and made each other laugh. It was very sweet and very pleasant. Very pleasant weather, too. We saw lots of dogs and dog owners out for walks on the way down there and back. We usually devote a sentence or two to Parker or Gizmo (the best dogs we have ever known) on these walks since it's so common to see other dogs with their owners. We've talked about getting one in the future, which might be nice. I miss the cats (?!) pretty bad but they're getting on very well at Josh's parents' house. I am so glad they're safe and being taken care of by such nice people.

Oooh, speaking of his parents--! They sent me off with some blueberry wine! Gonna go crack (cork?) one of those open and enjoy. The handsome man I live with is working hard on preparing a presentation for tomorrow and fixing some software problem so doctors don't mistakenly prescribe Rick Astley eyelashes or something. Music doesn't bother him when he is working like it does me, so I made us a playlist and it is gooooood. Eric Clapton's "Bad Love" right now, OK Go's "Get Over It" just before.

The weather is good here and life is beautiful. Still don't have a job yet. Get your act together, fated employer of my near--Swami Alex says very, very near, so get a move on--future.

Monday, May 16, 2011

The sorts of things I love, and the (nonpolitical) thing I hate about Wisconsin

Applying for jobs is not the most fun a person could have. Honestly, I do get a bit swept up in the possibility each new posting could mean, and I do have fun on the first dozen applications writing these stellar cover letters and tailoring my very breath to what the posting is asking for and needing, but it does get old.

I have, however, had smashing luck so far in Wisconsin, where I have sent out fewer than a dozen applications and received four serious responses. One, to be fair, was for one of those file clerk positions where "files" are "sales," but the other three have been legit! And from really nice-seeming people in some cases. HR in others. I have an interview tomorrow that I'm excited and optimistic about--I like interviews--and the only thing I didn't have to wow them with was a dynamite interview outfit. So I got myself cleaned up after I scheduled the interview and headed down to Marshall's, which is in Greenway Station, literally right down the road from here.

Marshall's is where I must call bullshit on Wisconsin, for the first time not involving a politician (though I know one is behind this, and don't think I won't find you, motherfucker, and make you pay). Because there are NO suits of the non-bathing variety at Marshall's and there are NO Ross stores in the state. I am still reeling from this crushing blow to my savvy sartorial procurement needs. I sent messages to my mom and best friend here, and the latter offered to pick me up and take me with her to the mall, where she was heading anyway. We went to Kohl's, where I did find one really snazzy suit for more than I wanted to pay (limited cash until I can set up a bank account here). Bought it so no one else could take it, and because at my core I am a magpie, and a mean one. Went to the mall after and struck gold at Penney's. I now own one actual skirted suit and a nice blazer and slacks made by the same company.

Josh is playing something that sounds dreadful and bloody on the computer. He wasn't feeling well when he got home, so after dinner we watched a couple of Glee episodes and vegged; he stretched out with his head in my lap. Apparently a little horizontal time (no, sadly) was all he needed, as he appears to be terrorizing or saving a town of very, very frightened little digital people. And I am typing this blog entry on the island-y thing in the kitchen. I love this apartment, and I will miss it when we move.

A little extra homesick today. I talked to my old team lead via text message today and as excited as I am for this new stuff, and as batshit as my old job sometimes drove me, I miss where I worked. And my best friend, who had dinner with friends tonight and posted a picture on Facebook. I didn't really think about not having Hannah nearby until we were saying goodbye for the last time last week. I've been here for exactly a week as I write this, and that's fifty kinds of grand and great but I... I just lost my train of thought. Josh came over and I got it out of him that he is in fact terrorizing those little digital people.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Gone done and did it

Well, I graduated. And I moved to Wisconsin. And life's trucking along (hurr, believe me, if you move across the country in two days the last thing you will ever want to hear is a truck joke) fairly well. Miss my best friend and the people I'm used to seeing-- or at least I miss being able to see them, you know?

But things are good here. Josh and I are adjusting well enough, the apartment looks good and it will look even better soon, we're talking seriously about getting a car since the Vespa couldn't come up. It's the middle of May and I haven't heard anything from the graduate school, so I signed up to take classes at UW-Madison as a non degree seeking student. Looking forward to it.